GB2213432A

GB2213432A - A ring binder

Info

Publication number: GB2213432A
Application number: GB8728721A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Thomas Simon Corbishley
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1987-12-09
Filing date: 1987-12-09
Publication date: 1989-08-16
Anticipated expiration: 2007-12-09
Also published as: GB2213432B; GB8728721D0

Abstract

A ring binder (1) comprises a sheet of polypropylene material divided by score lines (2, 3) into front and rear panels (4, 5) joined by a spine (6). The binder includes a pair of binder strips (8), each of which has an associated head (9), the strips and heads (8 and 9) being cut out from the rear panel (5). Each strip (8) is associated with an elongate rectangular aperture (11). The heads (9) are of elongate rectangular shape extending asymmetrically across the end of their associated strips. In the shorter part of each head, the corner further from the strip (8) is rounded. This permits the heads (9) to be passed through holes in the material being bound and the apertures (11) without any deformation occuring. <IMAGE>

Description

RING BINDER This invention relates to a ring binder.

A conventional ring binder comprises front and rear panels joined together by a central spine and a spring operated ring binder mechanism mounted on the spine. Although the conventional ring binder is satisfactory in use, the provision of a spring operated ring binder mechanism has a consequence that the binder Is of a generally complex and costly construction.

It Is an object of this invention to provide a new or improving binder which is of a relatively simple construction.

According to one aspect of this invention, there is provided a binder comprising a sheet of materIal arranged to be bent so as to form a front panel and a rear panel, at least two binder strips extending from said sheet, an individual head provided at the free end of each strip, and individual aperture associated with each strip and formed In said sheet, each strip, its associated head and associated aperture being arranged so trat the head can pass through the aperture without plastic deformation and so that the strip forms a binder ring.

With the binder of this invention, in order to bind sheets, the heads are passed through holes I the materIal and then through their assocIated apertures. As a spring operated binder mechanism is not provided, the overall structure of the binder is relatively simply and relatively inexpensive.

According to another aspect of this invention, there is provided a binder comprising a sheet of material arranged to be bent so as to for:n front panel and a rear panel, at least two binder strips extending from said sheet, an individual head provided at the free end of each strip, and an individual aperture associated with each stip and formed in said sheet, each head being of elongate shape, extending across the end of the associated strip, and having a shorter part which extends by a relatively short distance from one edge of the strip and a longer part which extends by a relatively long distance from the other edge of the strip, the greatest distance between the edge of the shorter part of the head and the point of intersection between sad other edge of the strip and the longer part of the head being less than the length of the associated aperture.

This invention will now be described in more detaIl, by way of example, with reference to the drawings in which: FIg 1 is a perspectIve view of a binder embodying this invention before the commencement of a binding operation; Fig 2 Is an end view of the bier In Its state shown In Fig 1; Fig 3 is a scrap view of the end of a binder strip and its associated head; Fig 4 is a perspective view of the binder of Fig 1 after the first stage of a binding operation; Fig 5 is an end view of the binder in its state shown in Fig 4; Fig 6 Is a perspective view of the binder of Fig 1 after the final stage of a binding operation; Fig 7 is an end view of the binder in its state shown In Fig 6; and Fig 8 is a perspective view of the outside of the binder of Fig 1 after the completion of a binding operation.

Referring now to Figs 1 and 2, Fig @ shows the InsIde of a binder 1 in an opened out state before the commencement of the binding operation.

The binder comprises a sheet of polypropylene material divided by score lines 2,3 into a front panel 4, a rear panel 5, and n spine 6 joining the front and rear panels 4,5. The binder Includes a pair of binder strIps 8 each of whIch Is provided with a head 9. Each binder strIp 8 and its associated head 9 Is cut out from the rear pane leavIng an aperture 10 of complimentary shape. As may be observed, each strIp 8 extends from the rear panel 5 at a position adjacent the score line 3.

Each srip 8 and its head 9 is associated with an elongate rectangular aperture 11.

The shape of one of the heads 9 will now be described in more detail with reference to Fig 3.

As may be see In ,g 3, the head 9 Is of generally elongate rectangular shape and extends across the end of Its associated strIp 8 at right angles to the axis of strip 8. The head 9 has a relatIvely shorter part 13 extending from the edge 14 of strip 8 and a relatIvely longer part 15 extending from the edge 16 of strip 8. In the shorter part 13, the corner which is further from the strip 8 is rounded to provide a rounded edge 17.

As wIll be explaIned below, In order to bind sheets Into the binder 1, each head 9 passes through holes In the materIal to be bound and also through Its assocIated aperture 11. Each head 9 Is arranged so that this can be done without deforming eIther the material to be bound or the aperture 11.

Specifically, the curvature of the edge 7 is arranged so that the greatest distance between the edge 17 and a corner 20 Is ess than either the diameter of the holes in the material to be bound or the length of the aperture 11. The corner 20 is a corner of intersection between the longer part 15 of the head 9 and the strip 8. In the example shown In Fig 3, the centre of curvature of edge 17 lies on the intersection between the strip 8 and the head 9 and somewhat nearer the edge 16 and the edge 14. Thus, the greatest distance is between points 20 and 21, point 21 lying on the extremity of edge 17 nearer to the strip 8.

A binding operation will now be described with reference to Figs 4 to 8. For reasons of clarity, the materIal to be bound is not shown in these figures. Such material normally consists of a set of sheets, each of which has a size similar to the front and rear panels *,5 and is provided with a pair of circular holes at a spacing corresponding to the distance between the strips 8.

As Illustrated In Figs 4 and 5, during the first stage of a binding operation, the heads 9 and consequently the strips 8 are passed firstly through the holes In the material to be bound and then through the apertures 1 1. The shape of the heads 9 permit this to be performed without deforming either the heads 9 or the holes In the material being bound, or the apertures 11.

During the final stage of a binding operation, as illustrated in Fig 6 and 7, the heads 9 are pushed through the apertures 10 forming the rear panel 5. The binder 1 may then be closed and the outsIde Is shown In the closed state of Fig 8. As may be seen In Fig 8, the binder has a generally neat appearance and the heads 9 are neither present, nor can be seen, from the outside of the binder Although In the examples shown above, there are only two strips 8, a larger number of strips, for example 3 or 4 may be provided if desired.

The shape of the heads 9 and apertures 1 may be varied from the configuration snow n the drawings provided the heads can pass through the apertures, and also through the holes In the material being bound, without causing any plastic deformation of the heads. A small amount of elastic deformation Is acceptable.

In the example given above, the binder Is formed from a sheet of polypropylene materIal. The thickness of this material is selected so that the panels 4,5 and the spine 6 are semi-rigid and so that there is sufficient flexIbIlIty to bend the strips 8 into a ring strip but Insufficient flexibility to allow deformatlon of the heads after completIon after a binding operation. Other materials, such as PVC or steel can be used In place of polypropylene, the thickness being selected so as to provide the properties just mentioned in relation to polyproplene. In general, materials with a low modulus of elasticity, such as steel, will require thin sheets whIle materIals with a higher modulus of elasticity, such as PVC or polypropylene, will requIre a thicker sheet.

Claims

1. A binder comprising a sheet of material arranged to be bent so as to form a front panel and a rear panel, at least two binder strIps extending from said sheet, an individual head provided at the free end of each strip, and an individual aperture associated with each strip and formed in said sheet, each strip, its associated head and associated aperture being arranged so that the head can pass through the aperture without any plastic deformation and so that the strip forms a binder ring.

2. A bInder as claimed In Claim 1, In whicn each head is of elongate shape and extends across the end of the associated strip, the head extending from one edge of the strip by a shorter distance than from the other edge of the strip.

3. A binder as claimed in Claim 2, In which each head is of generally rectangular shape but with one corner belng rounded, the rounded corner lying in that part of the head which extends by saL shorter distance from said one edge of the strlp and be the corner further from the strip.

4. A binder as claimed In any one of the preceding claims, in which each aperture is of generally rectangular configuration.

5. A binder as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which each strip and its associated head is cut out from said material.

6. A binder as claimed In an one of the precedIng claims, In whIch said sheet of material is arranged to be bent so as to form a central spine between the front and rear panels.

7. A binder as claimed in Claim 6, in which each strip extends from a position In the vicinity of a line joining the spine and back panel and each aperture is located In the splne.

8. A binder comprising a sheet of materIal arranged to be bent so as to form a front panel and a rear panel, at least two binder strips extending from sald sheet, an individual head provided at the free end of each strip, and an individual aperture associated wrth each strip and formed In said sheet, each head belng of elongate shape, extending across the end of the assocIated strip and having a shorter part which extends by a relatively short distance from one edge of the strlp and a longer part which extends by a relatively long dIstance from the other edge of the strip, the greatest distance between the edge of the shorter part of the head and the point of Intersection between said other edge of the strip and the longer part of the head beIng less than the length of the associated aperture.

9. A binder substantlally as herelnbefore described wlth reference to, and as shown in, the accompanying drawings.